"After 20 years, Manmohan Singh has once again become the Finance Minister. In the last 24 hours, he has been taking steps and announcing polices for economic reforms," Modi said, speaking at a function here.

"What was the reason that being the PM you were not able to make the same announcements in the last eight years but you are doing so in the last 24 hours after your Finance Minister resigned?" Modi asked. "Was your Finance Minister not listening to you? Or was there lack of co-ordination between you and Finance Minister?"

In a newspaper interview, Singh had said he will work towards making India a more business-friendly place, cutting useless procedures and reducing the fiscal deficit. "What is the secret that after your Finance Minister quit you have started the process of economic recovery with a double enthusiasm?" Modi said, adding that both Singh and Mukherjee should answer this question.